Embed a text editor instead of string control on front panel GUI

[Dave_B]

Hello everyone,

I was wondering if anyone has ever tried to embed a text editor (i.e. Notepad++, Emacs, etc...) into a string control on a front panel GUI.  By this I mean instead of a 'dumb' string control on the front panel, it is another program like notepad++ being shown in the front panel, with all of the functionality and finesses that the original program includes.  I could create a notepad++ light edition using the string control and whole bunch of events, but it would be much easier if I could just show a finished program inside of the front panel 'container'.  I have another program that is an analysis program in which I do this very thing... that program exposes an active x object that I then use in another VI. Currently I have used the system exec function together with the command line command codes to perform the functionality that I need.  It just isn't as good as having control remain in LabVIEW.  This VI launches notepad++ and waits for the user to complete editing the text and saving the file.  Any help is appreciated, thanks!

/David

[Broken_Arrow]

There are ActiveX text editors out there that can be had cheaply which you could put into LabVIEW.

An alternate method I have used is putting a browser in LabVIEW and running http://www.editpad.org/ in the browser. Works fine.

[Michael_78]

Hi David,

I have used the .NET Rich Text control before to implement a simple text editor, but you still have to do quite a lot of coding to handle the events thrown up by the control.  On the last project i was working on I simply used a string control because i did not need any formatting.  Ctrl-X and Ctrl-V work in a string control without any programming, and using property nodes such as text.selection allow you to do stuff with your own toolbar.  You can also do a custom shortcut menu for the control.  The windows clipboard can be accessed using th Application Method Clipboard.Read or Write.

Michael.

[Broken_Arrow]

Yeah, the two main things I miss in a plain LabVIEW string control are Tab and Find. I know the .NET Rich Text control will do Tab but not sure about Find.

[Michael_78]

Tab would be a problem, but you can use search/replace string functions to do find and replace.  Does anyone know a workaround for tab, other than using spaces and a fixed size font?

Michael.

[Dave_B]

Thanks for your replies.  I was wondering where I could find the .NET rich text control you mentioned?  You also mentioned that there are alot of active x text editors to be had cheaply... Do you have one or more specifically in mind (and a link to that as well), preferably one that you have personally tried and think that it works well.

/David

[Michael_78]

Hi Dave,

Drop a .NET container on the front panel and from the shortcut menu Insert .NET Control then browse to:

System.Windows.Forms (2.0.0.0) RichTextBox

All the best,

Michael.

[fmarini]

hello friend

you have any example with this solution. NET RichText? preferably with toolbox treating events.

grateful